Spoon hook



April 8, 1930. J. c. YATES 1,754,073

SPOON HOOK Filed Sept. 23. 1927 Snow don,

Patented Apr. 8, 1934) rice JOHN C. YATES, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND SPOON HOUK Application filed September 23, 1927.

This invention relates to fish hooks, and especially to an improved form of spoonhook. The main object of this invention is to provide an improved form of trolling spoona hook which is very quickly and easily manipulated for changing hooks, that is, for removing a broken, bent or blunt hook and replacing it with a new hook of the same kind and size.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spoon-hook of this character of which the hook is held in place by its inherent spring action, and which securely retains its locked engagement with the spoon, regardless of the 1 amount of pull exerted on the hook.

Another object is to provide a spoon-hook of this character of which the spoon will securely hold the hook against disengagement therefrom even in the event of the hook being disengaged from its spring-locked position.

Another object is to provide a spoon-hook of this character of which the spoon is of concave-convex form throughout its extent, having no lateral or struck-up parts, so it is capable of being manufactured by a single stamping and pressing operation, thereby minimizing the cost.

Other objects and important features are pointed out or implied in the following details of description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the complete spoonhook, the hook being in its springlocked engagement with the spoon.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal central sectional View, the hook being in side elevation and in the position which might be considered the first step in engaging the hook with the spoon.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal central sectional view showing the second step.

Figure 4: is a longitudinal vertical sectional view showing the third step, the hook being in position to snap into its spring-locked position.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View showing the hook at the end of the fourth step, the hook being in its normal operative position, its eye being in spring-locked engagement with the spoon.

Referring to these drawings in detail, in

Serial No. 221,487.

which similar reference characters correspond to similar parts throughout the several views, it will be seen that this invention consists of two separately formed parts, viz, the spoon 1 and the hook 2. It should be under stood that the hook may be of any appropriate form with respect to its barbed and bowed end portion 3, but its other end is formedwith an eye t which is turned in the opposite direction from the part 3, so the general contour of the hook is S-shaped. The hooks 2 may be made of steel or other springy metal, and theinherent springiness of the hook is an essential feature of this invention.

The spoon 1 is concavoconvex throughout its extent, having no lateral projections, but preferably being formed in the general contour of a minnow or small fish, having the simulations of an eye, a dorsal fin 5 and a tail 6. The front end or mouth portion of the spoon is provided with an aperture 7 through which a fishing line may be passed, or for connecting the fishing line with the spoon through the medium of a snood or other appropriate means. The spoon is provided with central slots 8, 9 and 10, that is, these slots are arranged in alineinent along the longitudinal center of the spoon, and are of a width only slightly greater than the width of the hooks to be interchangeably passed therethrough. The central slot 9 is the longest of the three, so the barbed and bowed end of hook can be passed therethrough with ease and facility, as illustrated in Fig ure 2, then moved towards the slot 10 until its barbed end registers with the slot 10, then moved in the direction for passing the barbed end through the slot 10 (as shown in Figure 3), then swung into the position shown in Figure 4, and finally forced, against its spring action, into the position shown in Figure 5. In this spring-locked position (Figure 5) the bowed end 3 of the hook presses against the outer end of the slot 10, and the eye 4 presses against the outer end of the slot 8, While the intermediate part of the hook lies within the slot 9.

Regarding the use of this form of spoonhook, no explanation appears necessary, for

the use of trolling hooks and spoons is Well known to fishermen and others; but it should be understood that this spoon is not intended to twirl, but to glide and dart while being trolled.

I have no intention of limiting my patent protection to the exact details of construction andarrangement here shown and described, but changes may be made within the scope of the inventive ideas as implied and claimed;

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A spoon-hook including a springy hook having a bowed end portion and an oppositely turned end, and a spoon having alined slots to receive the hook in such springlocked engagement that said bowed end portion presses against an end of one of the slots while the oppositely turned end presses against the extreme end of another of the slots.

2. A spoon-hook including a substantially S-shaped springy hook having a bowed end portion and an eye, and aspoon having alined slots to receive said hook in such springlocking engagment that the bowed end portion of the hook presses against an end of one of the slots while the extreme end of said eye presses against an end of another of the slots.

3. A spoon provided with three alined slots, and a springy hook having a bowed end portion and an oppositely turned end, all of said alined slots being adapted tovreceive said springy hook in such relation that the bowed end portion presses against, the extreme end of one of. the alined slots while said oppositely turned end presses against the opposite extreme end of another of the alined slots and efifects a spring-locked engagement of said springy hook with said spoon.

4. A spoon-hook including a springy hook having a bowed end portion and an oppositely turned end which forms a loop, and a spoon having three alined slots, the intermediate one of such slots normally receiving the intermediate part of the hook while the said bowed end portion is in contact with the extreme end of another of said slots and while the outer end of said loop is spring-pressed against an end of the third one of said slots and thereby holds the hook in spring-locked engagement with said spoon.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHNv O. YATES. 

